Ironing board height adjuster



1951 J. J. MROFKA IRONING BOARD HEIGHT ADJUSTER Filed Jan. 27, 1956 A w m0 m m W A S w W w W hhuuhwh i we! Patented Dec. 18, 1951 2,57 8,826 IRONING BOARD HEIGHT ADJUSTER Joseph J. Mrofka, Massillon, Ohio Application January 27, 1950, Serial No. 140,871

This invention relates to improvements in ironing boards having foldable and collapsible stand or leg structure, the primary object of the invention being to provide simple and effective height adjusting means for such stand or leg structure whereby the ironing board can be readily adjusted to different heights to suit different users.

Another important object of the invention is to provide inexpensive but rugged height adjusting brackets adapted to be attached to existing stands or leg structure whereby an ordinary foldable or collapsible stand or leg structure can be readily and inexpensively converted for selective vertical adjustment and levelling of the ironing board.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, merely for purposes of illustration herein, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ironing board having a foldably collapsible stand or leg structure equipped in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure l, with the stand or leg structure collapsed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of a hinged bracket'and adjustable foot.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken therethrough on the line 44 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a rigid bracket and adjustable foot.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates a substantially conventional ironing board having foldably collapsible stand or leg structure including a pair of laterally spaced legs 8 hinged to the underside of the board at one end as indicated at 9 and occupying substantially perpendicular positions when unfolded, as shown in Figure 1, and occupying horizontal positions along the underside of the board I when collapsed, as shown in Figure 2.

Pivots l0 traverse the legs 8 midway between their ends and carry at the inward sides of the legs 8 the rearward ends of forwardly converging leg bars I, and inwardly thereof the forward ends of link bars II.

The forward ends of the leg bars ID are rigidly connected together by a transverse pivot I2 with the forward end of a forwardly declining brace 3 Claims. (Cl. 38--117) bar l3 pivoted on the pivot l2 between the leg bars Ill. The upper endof the brace bar I3 is positioned between two blocks [4, and traversed by a, pivot l5 which traverses the blocks and also traverses the elevated forward ends of forwardly declining and rearwardly converging bars I6. The rear ends of the bars [6 are connected to the forward and elevated ends of the link bars I l, whose rear ends are pivoted 0n the pivots III at the inward sides of the leg bars 8.

Vertically adjustable feet for the perpendicular legs 8 comprise bracket plates l8, secured by suitable means, such as screws l9, to and vertically along the laterally inward sides of the lower end portions of the legs '8, the bracket plates terminating at their ends in right angular upper and lower ears 2| and 22, respectively, having vertically aligned threaded holes 23 formed therein. Threaded upwardly through the holes in both ears isa screw 24', with a lock nut 25 thereon between the ears 2| and 22 and arranged to be turned against an ear, such as the lower ear 22 to lock the screw in vertically adjusted position.

The lower end of the screw 24 is traversed by a pivot 26 which also traverses a sleeve or socket 21, loosely receiving the lower end of the screw and having a disk 28 on its lower end to supportably engage the floor 29, as shown in Figure 1. The pivoting of the foot element composed of the socket 21 and the disk 28 relative to the screw 24 makes the foot self-levelling.

A vertically adjustable foot 30 for the depressed floor engaging end of the forwardly declining leg member formed by the bars ID comprises a plate 30' secured to the undersides of the bars ID, as by means of screws 3|, rearwardly of a plane angular floor engaging surface 32 on the undersides of the bars l0, and a swingable plate 33 having its rearward edge hinged at 34 to the forward edge of the plate 30. In the operative position the plate 33 supportably engages the angulated surface 32, as shown in Figure 1, while in the folded position the plate 33 occupies the retracted position shown in Figure 4.

The plate 33 has a. forward end portion 35 formed with a threaded hole 36 through which is threaded a screw 31 having thereon a lock nut 38 adapted to be turned against the top of the plate 33 to maintain a vertical adjustment of the screw 31. The lower end of the screw 31 carries a self-levelling foot element similar to that on the screws 24.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the ironing board 1 may be both levelled and elevated or depressed to the desired height by ver- 3 tical adjustment of the screws 24 and 31. In the cases that the foldable stand or leg structure is made of metal rather than wood, as contemplated in the illustrated device, it is obvious that the foot brackets can be bolted or welded in place instead of being attached with screws.

What is claimed is: 1. In a collapsible ironing board construction involving an ironing board and foldable leg structure, said leg structure including legs per-- pendicular when extended in operative position and declining leg means, vertically adjustable foot means secured to each of said perpendicular legs, said foot means comprising rigid bracketssecured to the inner sides of said perpendicular legs and each bracket having vertically" spaced ears, each of said ears havingascrew hole therein, the screw holes in said ears being in alignment with each other, a screw threaded upwardly through said holes, a lock nut on said screw between said earsand arranged to engageone of said ears to lock a vertical adjustment of said screw, and aself-levelling floorengaging member on the lower end of said screw.

2. A height adjusting foot-for the declining leg element of an ironing board comprising a first plate adapted to be secured to the underside ofi said leg element inwardly ofthe terminal end of said leg element, a secondplate having the inward edge hinged to-the' outer edge'of: saidfirst plate and arranged to be swung to supportably engage the underside of said leg element outwardly of said first plate and having; an end portion opposite said hinged edge arranged: to extend outwardly beyond the terminal end of said leg element, said end portion being formed with a threaded hole, a screw threaded upwardly through said'hole, a lock nut'onsaidscrew adapted to be turned against said seond=platetomaintain' a' verticaladjustment of said screw, and a looselypivoted self-levelling floor engaging memher on the lower end of said screw, said second plate being arranged to be swung away from said leg element when not in use to a position wherein said floor engaging member rests against said leg element inwardly of said first plate.

3. In a collapsible ironing board construction including an ironing board and leg structure foldably hinged thereon, said leg structure comprising declining leg means having a depressed end, vertically adjustable foot means on the depressed endof said declining leg means comprising a first plate secured to the under side of said declining leg means and spaced from the depressed end thereof, a second plate hinged on a horizontal transverse axis to said first plate, said second plate beingthereby swingable to supportably engage the under side of said declining leg means between said first plate and the depressed end of said declining leg means, said second plate having a free end arranged to project beyond said depressed end when supportably engaged. with the under side of said declining; leg means, a screw threaded through. said free endof. said secondplate having aself-leveling floor engaging member on its lower end and'a lock nut on said screw arranged to engage said second plate to lock the screw in a vertically'adjusted position.

. JOSEPH J. MIROF'KA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,726 Salisbury Aug. 27, 1912 1,255,427 Jones Feb. 5, 1918 1,394,338 Nyman et al. Oct. 18, 1921 2,097,349 Sladek Oct. 26, 1937 2,295,911 Page Sept. 15,1942 2,531,778 Merner Nov. 28, 1950 

